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Following the partial election of the French Senate, the balance of power in the parliamentary chamber is unlikely to change. The civil right retained the majority, French media reported, citing Monday’s individual results. The vote once again exposed the lack of local anchorage of French President Emmanuel Macron’s camp.

About 77,000 local and regional politicians were called to vote on Sunday. 170 of the 348 seats in the Senate were reallocated. When asked, the Senate announced on Monday that the factions would not meet until early October. The exact number of seats cannot yet be communicated.

The leader of the Républicains group, Bruno Retailleau, wrote on Platform The elections have strengthened the current majority. According to reports, Republicans are likely to get 143 or 144 seats, only marginally fewer than the current 145.

The former People’s Party of Socialists, which is still well represented in the area, also expects to retain its 64 seats, as Senate faction leader Patrick Kanner said. The left-wing camp could break the milestone of a hundred senators in total. There was also joy among the right-wing nationalists around Marine Le Pen, who managed to reenter Parliament. However, the Rassemblement National will not have its own parliamentary group with three senators.

The elections brought less success for President Macron. Of the 170 Senate positions now awarded, only four went to candidates from his party’s ranks, and their caucus could reportedly shrink. State Secretary Sonia Backès failed to obtain a seat in the Senate. The magazine “L’Obs” analyzed that more than 90 percent of the currently elected seats went to the opposition.

The Senate consists of 348 members who are elected for six years. About half of the seats are filled every three years. The House has a say in legislation. In conflicts with the National Assembly, the representatives there have more control. Now that the Macron camp lost its absolute majority in the National Assembly last year, the Senate has become more important as a negotiating partner for the government. (sda/dpa)